Clark County sheriff's deputies said the boy was visiting the house on Northeast Thompson Road. They said adults were home at the time.

Social media posts from friends and family said the boy was at his cousin’s house, and the boys were out possibly target shooting on the property, which is legal in Washington, but with restrictions.

Deputies won’t confirm yet what exactly happened, but locals say shooting is a regular hobby in the area.

"I don't think they were new to the arena of gun ownership, the majority of people out here have them and know how to use them," said neighbor Molly German. "It's not very often that something like this occurs, so clearly in my mind it's obviously an accident."

Kelli Parker owns a coffee shop down the road. She heard gunshots in the minutes leading up to police cars and ambulances racing to the home. She says the boy's death has brought a lot of sadness to the small town.

"It's absolutely just heartbreaking to hear that," Parker said. "I feel so sorry for those families that that accident happened, just doing something as common as practicing and targeting with their guns."

Amboy Middle School where the teen was a student has extra counselors on hand to help kids deal with the loss.